9: Chapter 9 Abandoning Exams and Embracing the Dao

Three more days passed; the mountain mist dissipated, and the sky was clear and bright.

Xuanweizi was already able to move freely. Although the Devilish Qi on his shoulder had not been purged, it at least no longer affected his daily life. This morning, he stood on the stone steps in front of the ancient temple, gazing toward the southeast in silence for a long time. Lu Mingyuan walked out of the temple, holding a bowl of freshly brewed medicinal soup.

"Daoist, it is time for your medicine."

Xuanweizi took the ceramic bowl but did not drink it immediately. He suddenly asked, "Today is the thirteenth of the seventh month, isn't it?"

Lu Mingyuan was startled, then nodded. "Yes."

"The mountain flood blocked the road on the eighth of the seventh month; it has been five days since then." Xuanweizi took a sip of the medicine, his tone flat. "According to the original plan, you should be in the provincial capital preparing for your exams right now. Seven days from now, on the twentieth of the seventh month, will be the first session of the Autumn Triennial Examination."

These words were like a fine needle, gently pricking Lu Mingyuan's heart.

He had indeed forgotten—or rather, he had deliberately avoided thinking about it. The experiences of the past few days were too bizarre: Awakening his talent, stepping into cultivation, and listening to the secrets of the Dharma-Ending Kalpa. Every single one had occupied his entire mind. Imperial examination honors, something he once regarded as his lifelong goal, suddenly became small and distant in the face of the great catastrophe of heaven and earth.

But could he truly forget?

Lu Mingyuan turned silently and went back to a corner of the temple. From the very bottom of his luggage, he took out an oil-paper bundle. Inside were several documents that had been soaked by rain and then dried: his Xiucai certificate, his Provincial Examination guarantee letter, and a letter from home that his mother had tucked in before his departure. The handwriting of the letter was neat, written on her behalf by the village schoolteacher. Its contents were nothing more than instructions to prepare for the exams with peace of mind and not to worry about home. The final sentence, "I hope my son will succeed on the golden list and bring honor to our family," had slightly blurred ink, though it was unclear if it had been dampened by rain or tears.

He spread these documents on his lap and stared at them for a long time.

Ten years of hard study, from the midnight oil to the morning cockcrow. From starting his education at seven to becoming a Xiucai at seventeen, and then studying hard for another three years to prepare for the Provincial Examination. Those nights spent reading by lamplight, those afternoons spent copying the calligraphy of masters, those times spent debating the classics with classmates... scene after scene surfaced in his mind.

He had once dreamed of the moment his name appeared on the golden list, parading through the streets on horseback, full of pride and success.

He had once imagined returning home to offer sacrifices to his ancestors and comfort his parents after becoming a Juren.

He had once planned his career path, starting as a county magistrate, serving a term, and bringing prosperity to a region.

These were all real, tangible futures. As long as he went to the exam as scheduled, with his talent, while becoming a Juren wasn't a certainty, there was a sixty to seventy percent chance. Once he became a Juren, he would join the gentry class, be exempt from taxes, not have to kneel before officials, and his parents could enjoy their later years in peace.

But...

Lu Mingyuan looked up and gazed outside the temple. Under his Clear Sight, he could see the dark-green Devilish Qi on Xuanweizi's shoulder, coiled like a venomous snake; he could see that dark-red Rift on the Northwest horizon, which, though very faint, was slowly spreading; he could see that within the Spiritual Qi floating between heaven and earth, wisps of gray-dark Impurities had already mixed in.

The Dharma-Ending Kalpa was approaching, and the Heavenly Dao was about to collapse.

And he, carrying the chance of the one that escaped, chosen by the Bai Ze, and having the ancient scroll recognize him as master, was the "variable" in Xuanweizi's words.

"Bringing honor to the family" versus "mending the pillars of heaven," "bringing prosperity to a region" versus "saving all living beings"—the weight of these two paths laid before him seemed obvious at a glance.

But was it really that simple?

Lu Mingyuan gripped the letter from home tightly. His mother was nearly fifty, her hair already graying at the temples. His father had died young, and the household relied entirely on his mother's weaving and silkworm rearing. If he gave up the imperial exams, the family's greatest hope would be severed. The gossip of neighbors and relatives, the potential pressure from creditors at the door... could his mother endure it?

And then there was himself.

The path of cultivation was indeed mysterious and wondrous, but it was also fraught with extreme danger. The demonic wound on Xuanweizi's shoulder was proof—even a Saint could not avoid being injured. How long could he, a small Cultivator at the Qi Refinement Stage, survive in the future Kalpa? How far could he go?

If he died halfway through his cultivation and had already given up the exams, then he would truly lose everything on both sides.

"Are you hesitating?" Xuanweizi's voice came from the doorway.

Lu Mingyuan turned and saw the old Daoist walking in with the empty bowl. His expression was calm, but his eyes held an understanding that saw through everything.

"Junior..." Lu Mingyuan gave a bitter smile, "is indeed finding it difficult to decide."

"It is normal," Xuanweizi sat down across from him. "If you had abandoned ten years of hard study and your parents' expectations without any hesitation, then I would instead doubt your Heart-Nature. Being heavy with emotion and righteousness is the very foundation of cultivation."

He paused. "But you must think clearly about one thing—why do you cultivate?"

Lu Mingyuan was stunned. "To... deal with the Kalpa?"

"That is a purpose, not your original heart." Xuanweizi shook his head. "Let me ask again: If there were no Kalpa, no Rift in the pillars of heaven, and none of these grand duties of heaven and earth, would you still choose to cultivate?"

Lu Mingyuan fell into deep thought.

Without those grand backgrounds, would he still choose this path?

He remembered the feeling when he first drew Qi into his body: the warmth of Spiritual Qi flowing through his Meridians, the novelty of his expanded senses, the groundedness of controlling power. He remembered the excitement of studying the ancient scroll: the truths hidden behind the words, the mysteries connecting heaven and earth. He even remembered even earlier times—summer nights in his childhood, lying on a bamboo bed looking up at the starry sky, the awe and curiosity toward the vast Universe in his heart.

"Perhaps... I still would," he said slowly. "Junior has loved reading since childhood, not just the classics and histories, but also strange tales like the classic of mountains and seas and In Search of the Supernatural. I often fantasized about whether the immortal mountains, Divine Beasts, and extraordinary people recorded in those books truly existed. This curiosity has never faded with age."

He looked at Xuanweizi, his eyes gradually becoming clear. "Cultivation allows me to witness those imagined worlds with my own eyes, to explore the ultimate truths of heaven and earth, and to transcend the limitations of a Mortal to see the scenery from a higher place. This in itself is a tremendous temptation."

Xuanweizi smiled. "Good. Then let me ask again: Can the honors of the imperial exams give you these things?"

The answer was self-evident.

Lu Mingyuan looked down at the letter from home. His mother's expectant gaze seemed to be right before his eyes, and the phrase "bring honor to the family" weighed heavily on his heart. He took a deep breath. "But my home..."

"I understand your concerns," Xuanweizi interrupted him. "Cultivation does not require you to sever your worldly ties. On the contrary, true Cultivators cherish relationships and righteousness even more. How about this—"

He took out a jade pendant from his robe. The pendant was circular, with a taiji diagram carved on the front and the four ancient seal script characters for "Fortune, Longevity, Peace, and Health" on the back. The jade was warm and smooth, glowing with a faint blue-gold light under his Clear Sight.

"This jade pendant is named 'Shouzhen.' It is a Body-Protecting Magical Artifact I refined in my early years. Take it home and place it in the main hall. It can ensure the peace of the household, expel evil and avoid disasters, and slowly improve the wearer's Physique and extend their life." Xuanweizi handed the jade pendant over. "Furthermore, I have some modest property at Zhongnan Mountain. You can leave your home address, and someone will naturally send silver, grain, and oil to ensure your mother's food and clothing are well-provided for."

Lu Mingyuan took the jade pendant. It felt warm to the touch, and a peaceful, harmonious aura spread from his palm, even calming the agitation in his heart. His eyes grew slightly warm. "Daoist treats me with such kindness, Junior..."

"No need for more words." Xuanweizi waved his hand. "You saved my life; this debt of gratitude is greater than the heavens. These things are merely a small effort. Moreover, allowing you to cultivate with peace of mind is inherently part of dealing with the Kalpa."

Lu Mingyuan gripped the jade pendant tightly and looked at the letter from home on his lap again. He suddenly stood up, walked to the fire, and spread out the letter, the certificate, the guarantee letter, and other items one by one. He took one last look and then—threw them into the fire.

The flames leaped up, and the paper quickly curled, charred, and turned into ash.

What burned was not just documents, but his life plans for the past twenty years, his mother's expectations, and the "Righteous Path" in the worldly sense.

The fire reflected in his eyes, flickering and dancing.

Xuanweizi watched quietly without stopping him.

When the last piece of paper ash fell, Lu Mingyuan turned and gave a deep bow to Xuanweizi. "Junior Lu Mingyuan is willing to abandon his honors and follow the Daoist in cultivation. I do not seek longevity or leisure, but only to understand my mind and see my nature, and to contribute my part in the Kalpa."

His voice was calm, but every word was clear, like gold and stone striking the ground.

Xuanweizi stood up and reached out to help him up. For the first time, the old Daoist's eyes showed undisguised relief. "Good. From today on, you are my Disciple. However—"

He changed his tone. "The formal status of master and apprentice will not be established for now. Once we return to Zhongnan Mountain, perform the apprenticeship ceremony, and burn incense to inform heaven and earth, you will be considered officially entered. For these few days, you may still refer to yourself as 'Junior'."

"Yes," Lu Mingyuan replied.

Xuanweizi nodded and looked at the sky outside the temple. "We will set off for Zhongnan Mountain tomorrow morning. It is not suitable to stay here for long. That Rift in the Northwest... I fear it is about to expand again."

Lu Mingyuan followed his gaze. Under his Clear Sight, that dark-red Rift had indeed expanded slightly compared to yesterday, and the black thread-like substances at the edges were slowly writhing like tentacles, making one's heart skip a beat.

Forsake small interests to seek the Great Dao.

He suddenly remembered this phrase from an ancient book. Only now did he truly understand its meaning—the so-called "small interests" were not truly insignificant, but rather a choice that must be made in the face of the grander "Great Dao."

He touched the Shouzhen jade pendant in his robe. The warm sensation came through, and the last concern in his heart was settled.

He turned and began to pack his belongings. A few changes of clothes, the ancient scroll of the classic of mountains and seas, the Classic of Purity and Tranquility Jade Slip, the Heart Scale gifted by the Bai Ze, and some basic cultivation notes he had transcribed under Xuanweizi's guidance during his spare time over the past few days. There wasn't much, just enough to fit in one bundle.

Finally, he also put away the charcoal pencil and several blank sheets of paper.

"Is there anything else you want to write?" Xuanweizi asked.

Lu Mingyuan shook his head. "No more. For some decisions, no matter how much is said, it is useless. When my cultivation is successful in the future, I will return home to explain to my mother."

He paused and said softly, "I hope by then, Mother will understand."

Xuanweizi patted his shoulder without speaking.

The sun set, and the light inside the ancient temple gradually dimmed. Lu Mingyuan sat on the threshold, looking at the continuous mountain ranges in the distance. Ten years of hard study, abandoned in an instant; it was impossible not to feel some melancholy in his heart.

But he did not regret it.

This path was his own choice. For that curiosity toward the mysteries of heaven and earth, for that persistence of not wanting to back down even in a desperate situation, and for—this sudden, heavy responsibility on his shoulders.

Tomorrow, Zhongnan Mountain.

A new path has begun.